RADIO PREMIUMS -
RELIVE THEM AGAIN!
SKY KING
Sky King, on the air from 1946-1954, was another show which offered a ton of premiums during its run. Unfortunately, only a few copies of the show are available and only one makes reference to a premium. Peter Pan Peanut Butter was the sponsor.
- 11-2-47
Episode title is "Mountain Detour". The Spy King Secret Signalscope was used during this episode and listeners were advised to get their own for only 15c and the inner seal from a jar of Peter Pan Peanut Butter. The Signalscope included a glow-in-the-dark signaling device, whistle, magnifying glass and Sky King's private code. With the Signalscope you could also see around corners and trees.
SMILIN' ED AND HIS BUSTER BROWN GANG
Ed McConnell and his gang were on the air from September 1944 to April 1953 under the sponsorship of Buster Brown Shoes.
- 3-15-46
Title of featured story: "Pegasus and Zeus". Buster Brown shoe stores carried Buster Brown comic books, free to Smilin' Ed's little buddies. Issue #4 was now available and featured stories and songs like those heard on the show.
- 5-25-46
Title of featured story: "Meeba and Ancient Egypt". Buster Brown Comic book #7 was now available and included two songs from the show, including "Silly Questions", and three adventure stories. More details about the contents of the books was now being provided
- 6-14-47
Title of featured story: "The Cupid Bandits". Buster Brown Comics #8 included songs to sing and stories about Leopard Men. Information about Smilin' Ed's new Capitol Record albums was also included.
SPACE PATROL
Space Patrol ran from September 1950 to March 1955 on radio and was often simulcast on television at the same time. It's sponsor was Ralston Cereals with Weatherbird Shoe Stores being included it at least one premium offer as noted below.
- 10-7-53
Title of episode: "Rescue from Planet X". With a title like this, it's not surprising the episode featured information on Ralston's "Name the Planet Contest". This contest featured the biggest giveaway of any of the kid's shows, a rocket ship! Entry blanks were obtained at Weatherbird Shoe Stores where you also received another premium, a free Interplanetary Coin Album with three coins inside. If there were no Weatherbird Shoe Stores in your area, details could be found on the back of Hot Ralston cereal boxes. The grand prize was a 35 foot, 1,000 pound clubhouse, shaped like the Terra V rocket ship, including a motor truck to pull it, plus $1,500 cash. The first prize group included 250 each of Space Patrol Wristwatches, Autosonic Space Rifles, Outerspace Helmets and Space Patrol Emergency Kits. The second prize group consisted of 750 Schwinn Varsity bicycles. The 'rocket ship' also served as a promotional device for the movie, "The Rocket Man", starring Charles Coburn and George 'Foghorn' Wilson. I remember when the movie played in my home town of Lafayette, Indiana, and the rocket ship/clubhouse was parked in a service station across the street from the theater. The newspaper ads for the movie said it was worth $35,000 (!?) and was first prize in the Ralston Space Ship Contest. There was no mention of the radio show. The ad also noted the ship included a panel of flight instruments, a mock up of a 50,000 mile radar screen, a space torpedo release and other space controls.
- no date
Title of episode: "Abducted Scientist". Buzz and Cadet Happy use their new Space Patrol Binoculars. They were later offered to listeners and were described as super, wrap-around, 4 power glasses which were most effective in outer space. Cost was 25c and they were available at the grocers along with the box of Ralston.
- no date
Title of episode: "Bees". Buzz shows Cadet Happy the new Space Patrol Microscope and states that every boy and girl should have the opportunity to have one.
STRAIGHT ARROW
This program ran from June 1948 to June 1951 and was sponsored by Nabisco Shredded Wheat cereal.
- 5-6-48
Title of episode: "Stage from Calvaydos". This was the first show aired, and it started off with a contest to name Straight Arrow's golden palomino. The grand prize was a palomino pony, the son of Fury, Fury being the name chosen as the winner.
- 6-21-50
Title of episode: "The Long Summer". New adventures of Straight Arrow could be found in Straight Arrow Comics. The latest issue, #15, was available at news stands.
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